Customer referrals are a powerful way for managed service providers (MSPs) to bring in new business. In fact, a potential customer is four times more likely to make a purchase when referred by a friend or colleague.
4 Reasons Not to Use Linux as an MSP
In certain cases, Linux offers great advantages to MSPs who need an operating system to run on their own systems, or to provision servers and workstations for their clients. Most Linux distributions are free of cost. There is also a variety of free applications available to run on them. You don’t need to worry about managing licenses. Linux, in general, is not susceptible to most of the malware that can affect Windows. Continue reading
Vendor Management Guide for MSPs
Behind every great MSP is a lineup of strong vendors to support them.
Just as vendors rely on MSPs to deliver their products to customers, an MSP also relies on the vendor to deliver equipment and technology, as well as support them with financing and other resources. Continue reading
Is the Pay-as-You-Go Model a Viable Option for MSPs?
When it comes to making big IT and services purchases, not every client may want to buy the same way.
This is especially true for MSPs, as small businesses often make up a significant portion of their clientele. A small business with a tight budget might not be able to afford a full-service managed service offering or maybe such a small business that the owners don’t feel like they need that level of support. Continue reading
IAM vs PAM vs PIM: Guide to Access Management
With the rise in the number of solutions and applications that organizations are using, corporate access management becomes a critical layer of protection and should be treated accordingly. However, access management is not a cloud-only concept. It directly affects most of the IT assets in the organization, starting with desktop log-ins and up to physical access to the server lockers. So, to provide maximum possible security in the organization, you should embed a centralized access management policy. Continue reading
The Importance of Patching While Working Remotely
Remote work environments have exclusively changed how organizations approach cybersecurity. This has fashioned a new tact where there is a greater need for patching and a renewed urgency to educate employees on the critical importance of patching and better security hygiene. Continue reading
3 Practices to Communicate Effectively with MSP Clients
When it comes to running an MSP business, it’s easy to think the key to success is all about technology. However, it’s just as much about communication. Continue reading
Service Desk vs Help Desk: The Difference Explained
Most of your clients and even most of your tech staffers won’t see any difference between a service desk and a help desk. In fact, many, if not all, MSPs themselves tend to not notice the difference between these concepts. However, from the processual and operational points of view, a service desk and a help desk are indeed different concepts. Continue reading
MSP Knowledge Management Guide
Imagine that you employed the best tier-two staffer in the world. This person knows just about everything about your clients, can draw a network map for any of them with their eyes closed, standing on one leg in a dark room. And this perfect T2 is supportive – they will gladly teach any T1 you send them and share and spread their knowledge throughout your whole team. Now, let’s imagine the darkest of days, the day when this T2 leaves you, for whatever reason. Continue reading
Research Time: To Charge or Not to Charge
MSPs don’t know everything about every piece of technology, solution, or cyberthreat. There’s just so much to know. It’s impossible to know how to fix every problem that arises. IT infrastructures are complex. If you find yourself researching problems, you’re not alone. But when you do, do you charge your clients for your time? Continue reading
How to Properly Move a New Client from a Previous MSP
When acquiring a new client, there are always ups and downs. There’s usually that initial phase of excitement and exhilaration, where your confidence as a salesperson is at a high. Then, what follows is the realization of having to deliver on your promises, a stressful moment for any business owner. Continue reading
MSP Referral Program Guide
If you ask any other managed services provider about the most effective way of earning clients, you will most probably hear about referrals. However, even the happiest of your customers won't always refer your exceptional services to their business connections. But why? Continue reading